to kinge Ioram the sonne of Achab. Who when he had spente and emploied all his lyfe in the seruice and worshippinge of Idols and came in the time of his necessitie to the Prophet of God requestinge him of helpe and remedie 4. Reg. 3.13 the holie Prophet answered and saide O kinge Ioram what hast thou to doe with me Get thee hence to the Prophettes of thy father wheÌ„soeuer a synner earnestlie repenteth and coÌ„uerteth trewlie vnto God he will forgeue and receiue him but fewe sicke persons that haue liued dissolutelie doe so but if they recouer there health doe retorn ordinarielie againe to their former wicked lyfe Esa 57.13 At the hower of our deathe we wishe that we had more time to doe penance for our synnes and mother and desier them to helpe thee at this tyme. O how manie of vs doe followe this wicked kinge both in our life and death In our lyfe we serue the worlde and at the point of death we calle vpon almightie God What answere maie we looke to haue at that dreadfull howre but euen the same that he hath alreadie geuen in the like case Which is what hast thou to doe with me sith thou diddest neuer seruice vnto me Get thee hence to thy counsellors whom thou hast folowed and to thy idols whom thou hast loued serued and adored and speake vnto them to geue thee thy wages for thy seruice When yee shall crie saieth almightie God by his Prophet Esaie let them that yee haue gathered together deliuer you but the winde shall take them all awaie At this time the sicke man beginneth to wishe that he might haue some space to doe penance for his former wicked lyfe And he thinketh then with himselfe that if he might obteyne it ô how he woulde fast and praie and doe great worckes of mercie Yea he woulde not contente him selfe with euerie common kinde of penaÌ„ce but woulde liue the most straite and austere kinde of lyfe of all men in the worlde But alas when he perceiueth by the encreasinge of his sicknes that his request will not be grauÌ„ted and calleth to minde what time opportunitie and meanes he hath had to prepare himselfe for this dreadful howre aÌ„d how fondly he hath suffered the same to passe in vaine then is he wonderfullie greiued and vexed for this losse and acknowledgeth him selfe to be well worthie of such punnishement for that he woulde not be mindfull beforehande of his dreadfull accompt but omitted to doe penance for his synnes when he had time and space to doe it O vnto how manie of vs doth it happen to be beguiled after this sorte speÌ„dinge and consuminge the time which almightie God hath geuen vs to doe penance for our sinnes in vanities and pleasures and afterwardes when we stande in most neede of it we wante it A verie apt similitude And so it happeneth vnto vs as it doth commonlie to the pages and seruitours in the Cowert who beinge alowed a candle to light them selues to bedde doe spende their candle in plaie all the night and afterwardes are constrained to goe to bedde darkelinge OF THE SACRAMENT OF EXTREME Vnction And of the agonie of death Infirmatur quis in vobis inducut prâ—sbitoros ecclesiae et orent supâ—r 〈◊〉 vâ—gentes cum oleo in domini Jac. cap. 5. vers 14. § VI. The Catholicke Churche helpethe her childreÌ„ at the hower of their deathe with prayers aÌ„d Sacramentes NOw approcheth the sicke person to his last ende and the Catholike Church as a verie louinge and pittiefull mother beginneth then to helpe her Children with praiers and Sacramentes and with all the meanes she maie possiblie doe And because his necessitie is so great for at that instant it shal be determined what shall become of him for euer and euer greate hast is made to calle vpon all the Sainctes in heauen that they all will helpe the sicke maÌ„ in this his great perill and daunger For what other thinge is the Letanye which then by commandement of the Church is to be saied ouer him that is at the poynt of death but that the Catholicke Churche as a pittifull mother beinge verie carefull for the daunger of her sicke childe knocketh at all the gates of heauen and cryeth vnto all the Sainctes desiringe them to be intercessors before the diuine maiestie for the saluation of him that standeth now in so great neede of their helpe at the time of his passinge out of this worlde The Preiste then annoyntethe all the senses and members of the sicke person Then the Preist out of hande annointeth all the senses and members of the sicke person with the holie Oyle accordinge as the holie Scripture commaundeth in the Epistle of S. Iames. cap. 5. vers 14. And desireth almightie God to pardon the sicke person all that he hath offended by any of his senses And then annointinge his eies he saieth Almightie God by this Vnction and of his diuine mercie pardon thee all the sinnes that thou hast committed by meanes of thine eies And in this wise he annointeth all the other partes of the sicke person Now if the miserable sinner haue bene dissolute in his eies or in his toÌ„ge or in anie other of his bodelie senses If all his former dissolute disorders and wanton pleasures be represented vnto him at that time in such sorte that he seeth well what litle fuite he is lyke to finde then by all his former delightes and pleasures If he perceiue withall into what a narrowe strait he is brought by meanes of his wicked and licentious life how can he chose but feele an extreme angwish and griefe therewith What woulde he geue at that time trowe yee that he had neuer lifted vp his eies from the grownde to beholde anie woman with anie wanton looke and that he had neuer opened his mowth to speake anie wordes of lyenge slaunder detraction or anie other wicked worde Of the agonie of deythe After this followe the panges and agonie of death which is suerlie the greatest of all the conflictes we haue in this lyfe Then is the holie Candle lighted and his friendes and executors beginne to prouide his wyndinge sheete and other thinges for his funerals Then they beginne to faie to the sicke man that the hower of his departure out of this worlde is now come and therefore they counsell him to recommende himselfe vnto almightie God and call vpon the holie virgin Marie his blessed Mother who is wonte at that hower to helpe all them that calle vpon her Then the sicke man beginneth to heare the woefull cries and pittiefull lamentations of his poore wife who now presently beginneth to feele the discommodities of her newe widowhode and solitarie lyfe Then the sowle of the sicke man is readie to departe froÌ„ the bodie and at the time of hir goinge euerie one of his members is sore grieued and vexed therewith Then are the cares of the sowle renewed a freshe Then is the
24. vers 25. and namelie of the dreadefull daie of iudgemente he vttered suche wonderfull terrible thinges thereof that as the holie scripture mentioneth he made the verie President himselfe thoughe he were an infidell euen to tremble and quake for fearè with the onelie hearinge of them Apoc. 14. vers 7. And sain te thon likewise in his Reuelations affirmeth that he sawe an Angell preachinge the euerlastinge gospell vnto all Nations tribes tongues and people meaninge thereby that he preached as wel to the good as to the wicked without anie exception therein of the faithfull Christians sayenge Feare oure Lorde and giue honor vnto him becawse the hower of his iudgemeÌ„te is come And I am perswaded that all godlie wise and graue men will easelie agree in this opinion with me that this manner of preachinge of the terror of the daie of Iudgemente and of the moste horrible paines of hell is muche more needefull nowe in this our corrupte age in Englande and Scotlande than in Italie Spaine or other Catholike countries sithe so greate numbers of them are infected with so manie hereticall licentious doctrines that haue caused them to put quite awaie out of their myndes all feare of God and of his terrible iudgements and to presume moste certainelie and assuredlye to be saued by their onelie faithe Philip. 2. vers 12. 1. Cor. 4.4 2. Pet. 1.10 and so are generallie become vtterlie careles of endeuoringe to woorke their saluation with feare and tremblinge and doe liue as dissolutelie as anie barbarous Pagans and Atheists In so muche as all godlie aunciente wise men doe greatelye lamente to see by experience the terrible prophecie of Dauid to be generallie verified at this daie throughout our Realme which is that the iudgements of almightie God be taken quite awaye from the face of the vngodlye Psal 9. vers 26. And if theise and suche like godlie Meditations and considerations of the terrible threateninges and iudgements of almightie God againste the wicked be not a fitt remedie for their conuersion from their careles dissolute lifes what other remedie then can possiblie be deuised for them Howbeit I haue verie greate hope that with the grace of God theise godlie Meditations will woorke muche good effecte for the conuersion of manie of them For vndoutedlie that man is verie wilfull and obstinate in his wickednes that readinge aduisedlie all theise godlie Meditations is not moued inwardelie in his harte in some parte of them to the feare loue and seruice of almightie God and to the abhorringe of synne and amendement of his lise And suche readers as shal be inwardelie moued and called thereunto by almightie God I coniure them in his holie name and in regarde of their owne saluation Ephes 4. vers 30. Psal 94.8 not to make sad the Holie Ghoste in hardeninge their hartes and resistinge vngratefullie and wilfullie againste his diuine inspirations when it shall please his infinite goodnes and mercie with suche singuler loue to knocke and calle at the dore of their hartes but in anie wise to open it out of hande and receiue him most humblie into their hartes with suche louinge hartie interteynement submission thankefulnes seruice and honor as duetie requireth they shoulde doe vnto their most highe soueraigne lorde and Creatour that hath suche a speciall louinge care of their saluation Nowe this booke of Meditations and whatsoeuer els I haue translated and shall godwillinge hereafter publishe in printe I doe most humblie offer vnto the seruice of almightie God for the benefite of our countrie And for so muche as I am verie warie and assured that this boke conteineth not anie thinge whereby I maie iustlie incurre anie penaltie prescribed by anie lawes of our Realme I am the bolder humblie to recommende it by this my dedicatorie Epistle vnto your Honours and woorshipps partelie for that I haue spente some parte of my time in the studie of our Common Lawes in the Middle Temple emonge you and am verie moche bounde vnto diuers of you But chiefelie for that I knowe right well the greate capacitie and dexteritie of your spirites the grauitie of your iudgementes and your wisdomes experiences authoritie and example to be of suche principall estimation and worthie respecte in our Realme that in case ye doe Zelouselye emploie your endeuours to the due reuerente consideration of the holie Mysteries of the Christian Religion as I doute not but verie manie emonge you doe your holie example will generallie allure a greate nomber throughout our whole Realme from all contentious disputinge and iarringe aboute theise late newe controuersies in Religion to embrace firmelie and Zealouselie the aunciente Catholike beliefe and to imitate the vertuous liues of our holie Christian forefathers who had muche more aboundance of the grace and lighte of the Gospell of our Sauiour Christe than we haue in this our vngratious corrupte age as verie manifestlie appeareth by their so manifolde good Christian fruites lefte by them vnto vs to the glorie of our Sauiour Christ and of his deare spowse the Catholike Churche and to the continewall greate admiration confusion enuie and dispite of Lucifer and of all his rebellious wicked spirites and of all Iewes Turkes Heretiques and other Infidells his adherentes An exhortation to yonge noble men and gentlemen And requestinge here humbly pardon and licence to treate in a familiar maner with the yonger sorte I desire your Honors and woorshippes continewallie to remember what greate inclination ye haue vnto vertue more than others of obscure parentage and base estate in regarde of your noblenes and magnanimitie which euer inuiteth you to imitate the noble vertuous steppes of your noble Christian auncesters and to set vpon highe and noble vertuous enterprises and to doe all your workes noblie and excellentâ—â—e that ye take in hande As also to consider that a vertuous life is the greatest and moste noble ornamente of nobilitie And that for this ende cheefelie almightie God bestoweth vpon noble personages here in eaâ—the principalitie rule gouernemente and honor that thei shoulde giue vertuous and godlie example vnto all others that be vnder their rule and gouernemente And by experience we finde that ordinarilie no bysshoppe or other preacher is able with suche facilitie to plante vertue emonge the common people and cause them sincerelie to loue honor and embrace it as noblemen gentlemen Magistrates and Gouernours are able to doe in case thei them selues do giue good apparante example of vertue religion and deuotion and be Zealous also in procuringe all others to doe the like And therefore I beseeche you to determin with an honorable constant resolution to employe your time in the moste noble exercises of vertue and to feare loue serue and honor almightie God who is your most noble highe soueraigne Lorde and Creator and not to suffer either your studie or practise of the lawes or other your worldlye offices and affaires to be so greate an impedimente vnto your spirituall exercises but
reioyceth Cantic 7. Shut vp the springes of thy most pure eies more cleare than the waters of Esebon and now sore troubled and dymmed with the showers of so manie teares Genes 8. The wrath and anger of almightie God is now pacified with the sacrifice of the true Noe. Cease therefore the floude of thy most holie eies and let the earthe be cleared agayne with new brightnes The doue is now departed out of the arke and when she retourneth she will bringe with her signes of the mercie and clemencie of almightie God Reioyce therefore ô blessed virgin and comforte thy selfe with this hope and cease now I praie thee these thy mournefull sobbinges and sighes Thy owne deerelie beloued sonne him selfe putteth thy dolefull mourninge and teares to sylence and inuiteth thee to a newe ioye in his Canticles sayeinge Cant. 2. The winter is now past the showers and tempesteous stormes are ceased the flowers do appeare in our lande Rise vp therefore my welbeloued my darlinge and my turtle done that abidest in the holes of the rocke and in the cleiftes of the walle That is to saie in the strookes and woundes of my bodie Leaue now this habitation and come and dwell with me I see well ô blessed Ladie that none of all these thinges are able to comforte thee because thy sorrowe and greife is not hereby taken awaie but onely changed One martirdome I see is ended and an other now beginneth The tormentes of thy harte are renewed continuallie and thowgh some goe awaie yet others do succede with newe kindes of tormentes that by such changes the torment of the Passion maie be dowbled vnto thee Hetherto thou hast lamented his paines and sorrowes now thou lamentest his death Hetherto thou hast lamented his passion now thou lamentest thyne owne solitarines Hetherto thou hast lamented his greifes and troubles and now thou mournest for his absence One waue is past and an other commeth on to ouerwhelme thee So that the ende of his paine is a beginninge of thyne And as though this thy paine were to litle I see that these cruell tormentors prepare yet an other paine for thee no lesse then this Close vp thine eies therefore ô blessed Ladie close them vp out of hande I beseach thee and loke not vpon that longe terrible speare which goeth with greate violence in the aier to strike the place wherevnto it is leuelled Now hast thou ô holie virgin thy desire fulfilled For now arte thou become a buckler to thy sonne forsomuch as this blowe striketh not him but thee Thou diddest desire the nailes and thornes and they were ordeyned for his bodie but the pearcinge speare was reserued for thee O yee cruell ministers O yee hartes of iron Were the paines and tormentes to litle trowe yee which his bodie suffered beinge aliue that yee woulde not pardon it euen after it was dead What furie and rancor of enmitie is there so outragious but that it is pacified when it seeth his enemie dead before him Lifte vp your cruell eies a litle ô you vnmercifull and cruell ministers and beholde our sauiour Beholde I saie his deadlie face his dymme eies his fallinge countenance his pale and wanne colour and shadow of death For though you be more harde than either iron or the Adamante stone yea though ye be more hard than your owne selues yet it maie be that in beholdinge him your furie and malice wil be appeased Wherefore are ye not contented with the woundes yee haue geuen to the sonne but that ye will wounde his blessed mother also Her ye doe wounde with that speare vnto her ye geue the strooke and against her sorowfull hart threateneth the sharpe poynt of that cruell lawnce Now commeth the wicked minister with a longe sharpe speare in his hande and pearceth the verie naked syde of our sauiour with great furie The crosse shaked in the aier with the mightie force of the strooke and from thence issued water and bloude wherewith are wasshed the sinnes of the worlde O riuer that ronnest out of paradise and waterest with thy streames all the face of the earthe O wounde of the pretious syde of my sweete Sauiour made rather with his feruent loue towardes mankinde than with the sharpe iron of the cruell speare O gate of heauen ô windowe of paradise ô place of refuge ô tower of strength ô sanctuarie of iust persons ô sepulchre of pilgrimes ô neist of cleane doues ô florishinge bed of the spouse of Salomon Alhaile ô wounde of the pretious syde of our Sauiour that woundest the hartes of deuout persons O strooke that strikest the soules of the iust O rose of inspekeable bewtie O rubie of inestimable price O entrance into the harte of my sweete Sauiour Iesus Christ O witnes of his loue and pledge of euerlastinge life Throwghe thee doe all liuinge thinges enter into the Arcke of the true Noë to be preserued from the floude Vnto thee doe all such as are tempted repair In thee doe all those that are heauie and sad finde comforte Ioan. 4. by thee are the sicke persons cured throwgh thee doe sinners enter into heauen and in thee doe all banished persones and pilgrimes sleepe sweetelie and take theire rest O furnace of loue O howse of peace O treasure of the Catholicke Church O veyne of liuely water that springest vp euen vnto life euerlastinge Open ô most louinge Lorde I beseache thee this gate vnto me receaue my harte into this most delitefull habitation geue me passadge through the same vnto the tender bowells of thy loue let me drinke of this sweite fountaine let me be wasshed with this holie water let me be made dronke with this most pretious licour Let my soule sleepe in this sacred breste Here let it forget all the cares of the worlde here let it sleepe here let it eate here let it singe sweitly with the Prophet sayeinge Psalm 131. This is my resting place for euer and euer here will I dwell for this place haue I chosen for my habitation HOW OVR SAVIOVR CHRIST WAS TAKEN DOWNE from the Crosse and of the pittiefull lamentation and bewailinge of the blessed virgin Marie Semper mortificationem Jesu in corpore nostro circumferentes vt et vita Jesu manifestetur in corporibus nostris 2. Corinth 4.10 § II. AFTER this consider how the holie bodie of our Sauiour was taken downe from the crosse and how the blessed virgin receaued it in her armes Now the verie same daie in the eueninge there came those two holie men Ioseph and Nicodemus who reared vp theire ladders vnto the crosse and tooke downe the blessed bodie of our Sauiour into theire armes The holie virgin then perceiuinge that the torment of the crosse was now ended and that the sacred bodie of our Sauiour was comminge towardes the earthe she settethe her selfe in a readines to geue him a secure hauen in her lappe and to receyue him from the armes of the crosse into her owne
breefelie the tenne commaundementes and the seuen deadlie synnes and thou shalt see that there is no one of them wherein peraduenture thou hast not offended more or lesse diuers and sundry times by thought worde or deede Our first father Adam did eate but of one onely tree forbidden him Genes 3. when he committed the greatest sinne of the worlde But thou hast set thy eies and handes infinite times vpon all sinnes How thou hast vsed the benefites of almightie God In like maner ronne ouer all the benefites of almightie God and all the times of thy life past and consider wherein thou hast emploied them forsomuche as thou must vndowtedlie geue an accompte at the verie hower of thy deathe of all these thinges And therefore it were well done that thou shouldest first take an accompte of thine owne doynges and enter into iudgement with thy selfe 1. Cor. 11. vers 31. that thou be not afterwardes iudged of almightie God Of mysspendinge thy tyme. Wherefore tell me now wherein hast thou spente thy childehoode Wherein thy infancie Wherein thy youth To be short wherein hast thou spente all the daies of thy lyfe past Wherein hast thou occupied thy bodely senses and the powers of thy soule which almightie God hath geuen thee to this ende Of the bodelie senses and powers of the soule that thou shouldest knowe him and serue him Wherein hast thou employed thine eies but in beholdinge of vanities Wherein thine eares but in harkeninge after lies Wherein thy tonge but peraduenture in all kinde of swearinge backbytinge and most vnhonest talke Wherein hast thou occupied thy rast thy smellinge and thy touchinge but onelie in pleasures and delites and in sensuall and fleashly allurementes What benefite hast thou taken by the Sacramentes which almightie God hath ordeyned for thy remedie and comforre How thankefull hast thou bene vnto him for his benefites How hast thou answered vnto his inspirations Wherein hast thou spente thy healthe thy naturall forces and habilites How hast thou employed the goodes which are tearmed the goodes of fortune How hast thou vsed the meanes and oportunities which almightie God hath geuen thee to leade a holie and vertuous lyfe What care hast thou had of thy neighbour whom almightie God hath commended vnto thee And of those workes of mercie which he hath appointed thee to vse towardes him Now what answere wilt thou make at that dreadfull daie of thyne accompte to wit at the hower of thy deathe when almightie God shall saie vnto thee Luc. 16. vers 2. Geue me an accompte of thy stewardshippe and of the landes and goodes that I haue committed to thy charge For now I will that thou shalt haue no more to doe therewith O drye and withered tree readie for the euerlastinge horrible tormentes in hell fier What answere wilt thou make at that terrible daie when an accompte shal be required of thee of all the time of thy life and of all the minutes and momentes of the same And assure thy selfe that it will so certainlie come to passe for euen our sauiour Christ himself who shal be our Iudge hath plainlie protested it and forwarned vs beforehand thereof Math. 12.36 sayenge Euerie idell worde that men haue spoken they shall render an accompte of the same at the daye of Iudgment Of the synnes that thou hast commytted synce the time thou hast had more knowledge of God Secondly call to minde what sinnes thou hast committed and doest commit euerie daie since the tyme thou art come to a further knowledge of almightie God And thou shalt finde that euen now presently all that knowledge notwithstandinge olde Adam liueth in thee with manie of thy lewde corrupt maners and auncient customes Wherevpon thou mayest take occasion to runne ouer the negligences and defectes wherein thou doest dailie offende against almightie God against thy neighbour and against thy selfe For in each of these pointes thou shalt fynde thy selfe to haue failed verie much in thy dutie Cōsider then how vnreuerent thou arte towardes almightie God how vnthankefull for his benefites how rebellious and stife necked to yeelde to his inspirations how slouthfull and negligent in matters apperteininge to his seruice which either thou had left vndone or els if thou hast done them it was not with suche a readines and diligence as the thinges required nor with such a pure intention as thou oughtest to haue had but the verie true cause why thou diddest them was for some other respecte of worldlie commoditie Consider likewise how harde and seuere thou art towardes thy neighbour and contrariewise how pittiefull and fauorable towardes thy selfe what a louer of thyne owne proper will of thy fleashe of thy estimation and of all thy worldly profites and commodities Consider moreouer that whereas thou sayest in wordes that thou arte now conuerted vnto almightie God thou art yet notwithstandinge in thy deedes very proude ambitious angrie rashe vaineglorious enuious malitious delicate inconstant light sensuall a great louer of thy pastymes of pleasante companie laughter iestynge idell talke and of vaine bablynge and pratlinge Consider also how vnconstant thou arte in thy good purposes how vnaduised in thy woordes how headlonge in thy deedes how cowardly and faynte harted to doe anie matter of weight and importance Thirdly Of the greeuousnes of synne when thou hast considered in this order the multitude of thy sinnes consider forthwith the greiuousnes of them that thou mayest perceaue how thy miseries be increased on euerie side The whiche thinge thou shalt the better see Thre circumstāces to be considered in sinne if thou consider these thre circumstances in all such sinnes as thou hast committed in thy former lyfe to witt Against whom thou hast sinned For what cause thou hast sinned And in what maner thou hast sinned If thou consider against whom thou hast sinned thou shalt finde that thou hast sinned against almightie God whose goodnes and maiestie is infinite whose benefittes and mercies towardes mankinde doe exceede the sandes of the Sea in whom alone are all excellencies and titles of honour to be fownde and to whom all dueties and homagies dewe to anie creature are due in the highest degree of bounden dewtie If thou consider the cause that moued thee to sinne it was for a poynte of estimation for a beastly delight for a trifelinge worldly commoditie and for other thinges of no weighte whereof almightie God him selfe most greuously complaineth by one of his Prophettes Ezech. 13. saienge They haue dishonored me in the presence of my people for a handfull of barlie and for a peece of breade But if thow cōsider after what maner thou hast sinned Suerlie it hath bene done with such facilitie with such boldnes so without all scruple so without all feare yea sometimes with such contentation and ioye as if thou haddest sinned against a God of strawe that neither knewe nor sawe what passeth in the worlde Now is this the honour that is due
did to cause thee to be the more in loue with him by reason of this benefite and to make thee the more beholdinge vnto him by this example ād to make thy redemption the more aboūdant by reason of the great treasure that he bestowed vpon it and to geue thee more clearlie to vnderstande how much good will he beareth vnto thee that thou shouldest beare towardes him the like agayne and to shewe playnlie vnto thee how much interest thou hast in him that thou shouldest repose thy whole trust and affyance in him This is that benefite which the Prophet Esaie extolleth and that for great good cause in these wordes which after the translation of the septuagintes sownde thus In all the tribulations of men he neuer fainted Esa 43. neither was he euer wearie in sufferinge for them Neither woulde he sende anie Embassadour or Angell to redeeme them but vouchsaffed of his great mercie to come him selfe in person to redeeme them and to carie them vpon his shoulders all the daies of this worlde notwithstandinge that they did euill acknowledge this benefite Ephes 4.30 but did greiue and prouoke the holie Ghost to anger How greatlie we are bounde to our Lorde for the maner of our redemption And if thou be so much bounde to our Lorde for that he vouchsaffed to come him selfe in person to redeeme thee how much more art thou bounde vnto him for the maner of thy redemption which was by sufferinge so great paines and tormentes It were certainly a great benefite if a kinge woulde pardon a theife that had deserued to be whipped But if the kinge woulde vouchsafe him selfe to receaue the lasshes vpon his owne shoulders for him this were without comparison a farre greater benefite Consider therefore how manie benefites are comprehended in this benefite of thy redemption Lift vp thyne eies vnto that holie roode and consider all the woundes and paines that the Lorde of maiestie suffereth there for thy sake For euerie one of them is a benefite of it selfe yea and a singuler great benefite Our sauiours bodie Beholde that most innocent bodie of thy sweite sauiour and redeemer all of a gore bloude with so many woundes and bruses on all partes of him and the bloude gusshinge out on euerie side His head Beholde that most sacred head fallinge downe for verie faintnes and hanginge vpon his shoulders His face 1. Pet. 1.12 Beholde that diuine face which the Angels are desirous to beholde how disfigured it is and ouerflowed with streames of bloude in some partes freshe and redde coloured in other partes very fowle and blacke His visage Beholde that most bewtifull visage of all creatures and that coūtenance that delighted the eies of all such as behelde it how it hath now lost all the flower of his former bewtie Ieremie Thren 3. Beholde that holie Nazareth more pure than snowe more white than milke better coloured than olde Iuerie how he is now become blacker than cooles and so much disfigured and beraied that scarcelie his owne fryendes are able to knowe him Beholde that holie mouthe His mouthe His lippes how wanne and deadly it looketh Beholde his lippes how blacke and blewe they seeme Beholde how they moue desiringe pardon and mercie euen for those that are his verie tormentours Finally wheresoeuer thou beholdest him thou shalt finde that there is no one parte of him free from paine and greife but that he is couered all ouer with lashes and woundes euē from the toppe of his head to the soles of his feete His forehead His eies That goodly cleare forhead and those eies more bewtifull than the Sonne are now dimmed and darkened with the bloude and presence of deathe His eares Those eares that are wonte to heare the songes of heauen doe now heare the horrible blasphemies of synners His armes Those armes so well fashioned and so large that they embrace all the power of the worlde are now disioynted and stretched out vpon the crosse Those handes that created the heauens His hādes and were neuer iniurious to anie man are now nayled and clenched fast with harde and sharpe nayles His feete Those blessed feete that neuer walked in the waies of sinners are now deadly woūded and pearced throughe Our sauiours narrowe and harde bedde vpon the crosse without anie pillowe or other thinge wherevpō to reste his head 〈◊〉 His syde But aboue all this beholde the bedde where he lyeth and whereupon that heauenly bridegrome sleapeth at none daie how narrowe and hard it is and how he hath nothinge whereupon to rest his head O pretious head of my sweete sauiour what meaneth this that I see thee thus afflicted and tormented for my sake O blessed bodie conceaued by the holie Ghost how is it that I see thee thus wounded and euill entreated for my sake O sweete and louinge syde what meaneth this great wounde and open cleft in thee What meaneth this so great abūdance of bloude Alas wretche that I am what a pittiefull sighte is this to see thee thus furiouslie pearced with a speare for my sake O rigorous crosse be not now I beseeche thee so stiffe but mollifie a litle thy hardnes bowe downe vnto me these highe braūches let downe to me this most pretious fruite that I maie tast thereof O cruell nayles leaue I praie you those innocēt handes and feete of my innocēte Sauiour and come ād enter into my harte and pearce it throughe for it is I that haue sinned and not he O good Iesus what hast thou to doe with so manie cruel tormentes What hast thou to doe with death With sharpe nailes ād with the crosse Vndowbtedlie the Prophet had good reason to saie Esa 28.21 That his workes shal be verie straunge and farre vnlike him selfe What is more straunge and more contrarie to lyfe than deathe What is more disagreable to glorie than paine What is further of from the nature of most perfect holines and innocencie than the image and shape of a synner This title and shape ô Lorde is certaynlie very straunge for thee O true Iacob Gen. 26. that with wearinge the garmentes of others and with disguisinge thy selfe in a straunge habite hast purchased for vs the blessinge of our heauenlie father For by takinge vpon thee the image of a sinner thou hast purchased for vs victorie against synne O goodnes inspekeable O mercie vndeserued O loue exceidinge all vnderstandinge O charitie incomprehensible Tell me ô most mercifull Lorde what sawest thou in vs What seruice haue we done vnto thee With what workes haue we bounde thee to suffer such greiuous and cruell tormentes for our sakes O wonderfull bountiefulnes that without anie merite of our parte and without anie necessitie of thyne owne parte wouldest vouchesafe onely of thy mere grace ād mercie to purchace our redēption after this sorte Tit. 3.4 The benignitie and clemencie of our sauiour saieth the Apostle hath appeared not in
geuen them vnto vs It is euident that by the meane of his holie incarnation and passion whereby he made him selfe partaker of all our debtes and miseries and so by takinge vpon him all our miseries he made vs partakers of all his benefites This takinge vpon him all our miseries is vndoutedlie a farre greater thinge than to make vs partakers of al his benefites For certainlie it is a more wonderfull thinge in God to suffer miseries than to bestowe benefites because as there is nothinge more propre and conuenient to his infinite goodnes than to bestowe benefites so is there nothinge more straunge and further of from that infinite felicitie than to suffer miseries Whereby it appeareth that we are much more bounde vnto him for the paines and tormentes whiche he hath suffered for vs than for the great benefites which he hath geuen vnto vs I meane hereby that we are much more bounde vnto him for the maner whereby he hath remedied our miseries than for the verie remedie it selfe But how passinge great was the loue wherewith our Sauiour bestowed all this vpon vs This is without all comparison farre greater with what a passinge great loue our Sauiour suffered for vs. than all the rest For certainlie the desire which our Sauiour had to suffer paines for vs was farre greater than the verie paines which he suffered and much more paines woulde he haue suffered if it had bene needfull for vs. Three howres he continued sufferinge paines and tormentes vpon the crosse for our sinnes But what is this in comparison of that which the greatnes of his charitie coulde haue vouchsaffed to doe for vs Verelie if it had bene neidfull for vs that he shoulde there haue suffered paynes and tormentes vntill the daie of iudgemente the loue was so passinge great which he bare vnto vs that he woulde vndoubtedlie haue done it So that albeit he suffered much for vs yet was the loue which he bare vnto vs farre greater than the paines which he suffered for vs. And therefore if we be greatlie boūde vnto him for the great paines which he suffered for vs much more are we bounde vnto him for that which he desired to suffer for vs. This consideration is very profitable to prouoke vs to geue most humble thankes vnto him who hath bestowed so great benefites vpon vs and withall to loue him who hath loued vs much more than by his benefites he hath shewed vnto vs. Other infinite thinges there be to be saide concerninge this matter but now they shall remaine for an other place and somewhat I haue specified alreadie in the meditation of the benefites of almightie God Of the wonderfull great goodnes of almightie God which appeareth verie euidentlie in the holie Passion of our Sauiour Christe § IIII. FOVRTHLIE we oughte to consider the passinge great goodnes and mercie of almightie God which shinethe more euidētlie and brightlie in the holie passion of our Sauiour than in any other of his workes Wherefore thou hast deepelie to consider therein foure thinges which are to be considered in all the whole historie of the holie passion and in euerie parte thereof The first is who suffereth Fower principall thinges to be considered in the passion of our Sauiour The seconde is what paynes he suffereth The therde is for whom he suffereth The fourthe is for what cause he suffereth Now if thou wilt staye thy selfe awhile in euerie one of these poyntes and consider first the highnes and excellencie of him that suffereth which is almightie God and in such wise staie in this consideration that thou art astonied at this so highe and so wonderfull a thinge and afterwardes cōmest to descende from thence vnto the consideration of the basenes and vylnes of the most greiuous paines and reprochefull iniuries which he was contente to suffer and that not for Angels or Archangels but euen for men which are most vile and abhominable creatures and in their workes like vnto the deuils thē selues if as I saye in each one of these pointes thou make as it were a statiō and doe compare th' one poynte with th' other vndoutedly thou shalt be greatlie amased and astonied to consider how much so great and excellent a maiestie woulde abase him selfe to redeeme so vile and so base a creature and then maist thou crie out with the Prophete and saie Abac. 3. O Lorde I haue hearde thy wordes and was afraide I haue considered thy workes and was astonied But if after all this thou doe consider the cause of his so great abasinge and commest to vnderstād that it was not for anie maner of cōmoditie towardes himselfe nor yet prouoked by anie deserte of ours but was onelie moued thereunto with the bowels of his tender mercie and loue towardes vs Luc. 1.78 by the which he vouchsafed to visite vs from on highe this point beinge well and dewlie considered will lyfte vp thy minde into such a great admiration and loue of him that thou wilt be astonied as Moyses was in the Mounte Exod. 3. when he sawe the figure of this misterie and begāne to proclaime with a lowde voyce the vnspekeable great mercie of almightie God which was there reuealed vnto him This was that great languishinge and faintnes of spirite which the spowse felte in the Canticles when she saiede Staie me vp with flowres Cant. 2.5 and comforte me with apples for I langwise with loue Vpon which wordes S. Bernarde saiethe The amorous sowle seeth here kinge Salomon with the crowne which his mother crouned him withall She seeth the onely sonne of almightie God carienge a crosse vpon his shoulders She seeth the Lorde of maiestie whipped and spetted vpon She seeth the author of lyfe and of glorie thrust throughe with nailes pearsed with a speare and many despitefull reproches and contemptes done vnto him And finallie she seeth him bestowe his most holie lyfe for his freindes She seeth all this and in seinge it she is pearsed throughe with a knife of loue and therefore she saiethe staie me vp with flowre and comforte me with apples for I langwishe with loue Of the excellente vertues that doe shyne verie brightlie in the holie passion of our Sauiour Christe § V. THE fifte point that we haue to consider in the holie passion of our Sauiour is the great nomber of vertues that doe shyne verie clearlie in it the which consideration serueth to encourage vs to endeuour our selues to imitate some parte of that which is there represented vnto vs. This is one of the highest maners of meditatinge that is vpon the holie Passion For it is manifest The perfection of a Christian lyfe consisteth in imitatinge the vertues of Christ 1. Pet. 2.21 that all the perfection of a Christian lyfe cōsisteth in the imitation and followinge of the vertues of our Sauiour Christe Whereunto the Apostle S. Peter exhorteth vs sayeinge Christe suffered for vs leauinge vnto you an example that you shoulde followe his foote-steppes